Event of the Day: Day 1 of the New York SailGP
Our event of the day is the first day of the New York SailGP in New York City. The third race of the inaugural SailGP season sees Team Australia bring a slim four point lead to the Hudson River. They will attempt to extend their lead over Team Japan on a course that will push every team to their limits. This is a sailing event you won’t want to miss. The inaugural SailGP season travels to New York for the third race of the season, with the race taking place on the Hudson River. The river is known for its changing wind shifts, crafted and manipulated by the New York skyline, as well as strong currents and tidal flows. This creates a unique course that will test even the most seasoned sailor. The strong current especially will become apparent early in the race as the first leg goes against the current, travelling north up the Hudson. It may also determine the race as the third and final leg of the course is a hard push against the current to the finish line.
SailGP is contested between six teams representing various nations from around the world - Australia, Japan, Great Britain, the United States, France and China. Through the first two races, Australia have held a firm lead, winning both the previous events in Sydney and San Francisco. However, Japan are not far behind them, only trailing by four points in the standings. Team Australia is skippered by sailing legend Tom Slingsby. Slingsby is an eight-time world champion as well as an America's Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist. He captains a team of proven sailors - between them they have 17 world championship titles and 2 Olympic medals. However, they are facing a strong challenge from a young Japanese side helmed by Nathan Outteridge, a six-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist in his own right. The rest of the team, young and eager to compete, bring another 3 world championships and another Olympic medal to the team. In New York, Australia will look to extend their lead at the top of the standings while Japan look to surpass them. Also looking to make a statement in New York is Team USA. They are the youngest team in the competition but still have three world championships amongst their crew. They are helmed by Rome Kirby, a young man taking the sailing world by storm. He won the 2013 America's Cup alongside Tom Slingsby and will be eager to improve on his team’s fourth place finish in San Francisco at another race on home water for the Americans. SailGP is a new and exciting sailing tournament and the New York race is an event you will not want to miss.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the Cricket World Cup, where England face Sri Lanka at Headingley in Leeds. England are 4-1 and looking strong in the tournament. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are 1-2, with 2 of their 5 matches being abandoned due to weather. However, this still gives them time to make a late push across the later matches of the group stage. Be sure you don’t miss this match. In Super Rugby, the Crusaders face the Highlanders in the first quarter-final of the playoffs at Rugby League Park in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Crusaders finished first in the regular season while the Highlanders finished eighth. The Crusaders are hunting their third straight title while the Highlanders hope to stage an upset and begin their journey towards their first title since 2015. This is sure to be a very exciting match. It is the start of a selection of events at the European Games in Belarus. In the Copa América, Chile faces Ecuador at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil. On the LPGA, it’s day 2 of the Women’s PGA Championship at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. On the WTA Tour, the Nature Valley Classic continues at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England. Royal Ascot continues at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire. It’s the first match of the Africa Cup of Nations with hosts Egypt playing Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by SailGP; SailGP Australia